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Camouflaged Protocols of Womanhood: Inherent Paradoxes of Bengal

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Abstract

Contemporary India is part of a global community where modernization and urbanization including consumerism is on the rise; but not leaving behind its historic cultural essence. Old scriptures, myths, folklore, literature, cultural proverbs as well as media, have a noteworthy role in shaping the perspectives of Indian people. The current study was done in parts of urban Bengal to explore the influence of these forces from socio-political, psychological as well as philosophical registers, in shaping the self-image and identity of contemporary women. 50 participants were interviewed using a semi-structured in-depth interview method and data were analyzed following qualitative analytical methods keeping the cultural-relational-social context in perspective. The method of pluralism in the qualitative analysis was followed using three data analysis methods—Grounded Theory, Interpretative Phenomenological Approach, and Narrative Analysis. Analyses revealed an intriguing social-crafting of the concepts of gender and identities of women through idealization and internalization of traits and notions incessantly presented through celebrated literature, myths, folklore, proverbs, and media. Furthermore, the analysis showed how the deep-rooted paradox, inherent in Bengal’s cultural discourse, is internalized even by educated urban women and infuses a sense of lack, vulnerability, self-loathing, blame, and stigma in their identity. On the contrary, it was also observed in a few instances that optimum use of media and global knowledge led to the construction of a new-age ‘individual’ and ‘subjective’ discourse.

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Notes

  1. New-age poet from Bengal, known for questioning social structure and indicating at systemic oppression.

  2. Feminist poet from Bengal.

  3. Film director from Bengal with International fame—known for making non-binary gender concepts frequent representations in Bengali movies.

  4. Protagonist of ‘Chokher Bali’ novel of tagore—self-willed, outspoken widow character.

  5. Prafulla—protagonist of ‘Debi Chaudhurani’ novel of Bankim Chandra—escaped housewife turned dacoit-head—Indian version of Robinhood.

  6. Protagonist of ‘Ghare Baire’ novel of Tagore—got romantically involved with husband’s friend—was not happy with apparent successful marriage.

  7. Protagonist of ‘Chokher Bali’ novel of tagore—prototype submissive housewife—was presented in contrast to Binodini—accepted husband after his illicit romantic affair outside marriage.

  8. Protagonist detective character in writings of Satyajit Ray—intelligent, smart prototype of educated Bengalee men—remained single to avoid distractions in life.

  9. Protagonist in Shivpurana and Manasamangal folk-tales—the archetypal wife image who brought her husband back to life from death, by travelling to yamaloka alive and convincing Yama.

  10. Goddess and negative protagonist in Manasamangal—self-willed female-god, wronged by father and step-mother—killed Lakkhindar (husband of Behula) to force his father in becoming a disciple of her.

  11. All these authors are known for writing rebellious texts for women, questioning the years old societal structure and systemic oppression.

  12. Famous bengali poet known for questioning societal structure as well as role of media.

  13. Film director from bengal—disciple of Rituporno ghosh—famous for unveiling systemic oppression through his movies.

  14. IPS officer from Bengal—fought contemporary political conspiracy to unveil truth about park street rape case of 2012.

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  1. Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to Be University), Bengaluru, India

    Rituparna Chakraborty

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India

    Sonali De

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  1. Rituparna Chakraborty
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Chakraborty, R., De, S. Camouflaged Protocols of Womanhood: Inherent Paradoxes of Bengal. Psychol Stud 67, 488–500 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-022-00687-2

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